Today I spent the better part of two hours rewiring the taillights and marker lights on Junior. I noticed when we plugged Junior in to the van that the brake lights were the dim filament and the taillights were bright. I wanted it the other way around for safety sake. The marker lights were hit and miss: two of them didn't function at all; two of them operated only one of two bulbs. Turns out the kid hadn't ever completed his wiring of the markers - they needed ground. DONE!
This was a great project for the girls, too. We talked about complete circuits and they ran back and forth between the brake pedal and the light assemblies to help determine which wire configuration would work. They also made lunch while I completed the project.
After stops at multiple hardware stores in search of the right hose for the propane system I finally resorted to shopping for it online. Took me less than 5 minutes to locate it, another 5 to get the order completed. I like to support local businesses, but it's too often too tough to find the goods when we get down to details!
Our kitty has been helping me with the cushion cover project. All 8 cushions are now covered (four bottom pieces, four back rests) with the exception of the final side which ultimately will have Velcro closures rather than the zippers initially planned. (I'm terrible at zipper installation, and Velcro may hang in longer than zippers...or not!) ;)
I hope to have all these internal systems up and running before Monday.
After a few days away to visit family in Stinson Beach, we returned home and to our trailer prep project. Who says real life isn't educational?
While playing in the creek in Stinson, V figured out how to strengthen an impromptu bridge so that it wouldn't sag into the creek. Her feet stayed dry, and it even worked when the big kids (and one adult) tested it.
E figured out a fix to the folding table/bed situation. Before anyone had a chance to think about it, she figured out where and how large the extra wood panel needed to be, and which pads we needed to duplicate to fill the gap. The result: a rectagular bed rather than an arch-shaped bed (short in the middle, long on both ends).
I spent today with my dad installing the trailer hitch and wiring harness in our van. I tell you, the girls certainly get their mechanical minds from their Grandpa! My dad is amazing! He's a problem-solving whiz, able to solve head-scratching mechanical challenges with a bit of extra bailing wire, or perhaps duct tape. Bailing wire was his method of choice today.
The hitch required an odd installation of a rather large rectangular washer INSIDE the van's frame. An even larger bolt had to align just right to go through that washer and the frame. No biggie, right? Considering that the access hole was NOT immediately adjacent to the target hole (by design), this required some tricky fishing. We considered using some sort of nylon line to attempt to pull the washer and bolt in place, but before getting too far into it, he opted to weld a bit of bailing wire to the washer and one to the bolt. The stiff wire gave him greater control in placement, and a bit of weatherstripping sealant held the goodies in place while we aligned the hitch assembly.
In other upgrade news, I installed the in-line fuse for the electrical, and now both inside lights work. WOO HOO! I also cleaned out the tubes that feed propane to the burners on the stove. Only two were functioning last week. No wonder; there was a spider nest in the third! And the little hand pump I initially installed (which failed within seconds), has been replaced with a "rocket" hand pump which seems to work beautifully (much to both girls' pleasure).
WE HOOKED IT ALL UP and took a short spin around the neighborhood. The van dropped only 1/2 inch in the back when I hooked up the trailer, and the trailer's nearly level (within an inch)! Tows great! :)
There's still plenty to do including:
- complete water system
- check and repack trailer bearings
- acquire spare rim (and tire to fit)
- complete sewing of cushion covers
- cut the wood for E's bed fix
- complete curtains
- load
- reload after we discover the load doesn't tow well
If you receive email updates: To see the photographs or video, click on the blue link "Best Family Adventures" at the bottom of the email. From the blog: You may restart the slide show by clicking on the arrow.
OK, I've passed the first course, but rest assured catching a ride with me will never be the same! I've learned to drive with some finesse AND control. I'm better at slalom (both forward and reverse), can spin the car 180 degrees at the drop of a hat, and learned some techniques that could even make parallel parking interesting in future. I don't even hold the steering wheel the same way I used to!
I see you there with your contorted face. I hear those wheels turning in your head.
"Did she say STUNT DRIVING SCHOOL?"
Yup - the Big Gift for the Big Birthday was a three-day stunt driving (or as V says, "skunk car driving") course with legendary Bobby Ore and his crew including stuntwoman Gail Bowen and stuntman Jim Wilkey. I wasn't sure WHAT to expect, but I'll tell you what...learning to spin a car on its axis is a kick in the pants!
Stunt driving school is just what it sounds like, but more challenging because it all has to be SPOT ON! Hit a cone and figure you've just hit a movie camera or, worse, an extra. Go off the course and figure you've just plunged off the road you had been driving. This is what it looked like by the end of the day. (No one in the group had a video cam, but this is what we did to earn our stripes...er...shirts.)
Of course, I was the only student to show up on a bike. (Mr. B and the girls slept in well past our 7:30 a.m. start time 5 miles from the hotel, so it was bike or walk.) I enjoyed a nice ride, then scored rides in my fellow students' cars. So here was the lineup at the student parking lot:
BMW Mini Cooper - super cute, with black stripes and sunroof
BMW Z4 Coupe - Comfy and fast
Mercedes CL65 - Oh...My...HEAVENS! Talk about LUXURIOUS!
Lotus Elise - Thanks, Jose, for so generously allow me (and Chris and Jeanette and Bobby and Gail and Jim) to drive your beautiful car. NOW I get it! (E and V enjoyed their time in the driver's seat as well.)
My ride - ummm... Bobby immediately dubbed me "Bicycle Weirdo" and we moved on! :)
So, if I didn't return your phone calls or e-mails as promptly as usual these past few days, please excuse me.
Our kitty has been helping me with the cushion cover project. All 8 cushions are now covered (four bottom pieces, four back rests) with the exception of the final side which ultimately will have Velcro closures rather than the zippers initially planned. (I'm terrible at zipper installation, and Velcro may hang in longer than zippers...or not!) ;)
